Candidates, both 26, vie to be mayor in Chesco

Josh Maxwell wants to be mayor of Downingtown. He has the relevant experience and a record of civic interest and involvement, he says. He is full of energy and ambition. He is 26.

Nick Winkler wants to be mayor of Downingtown. He has the relevant experience and a record of civic interest and involvement, he says. He is full of energy and ambition. He is 26.

At a time when many boroughs and townships are struggling to find volunteers for municipal posts, Downingtown has a mayor's race between two youthful candidates who are not only eager to shape the town's future but who also embody it.

No matter who wins on Nov. 3, the 2.2-square-mile Chester County borough of 8,500 will have the youngest mayor in its history.

"They're both very intelligent guys who are very interested in our town," said Borough Council President Tony Madiro, 51, who was the previous youngest mayor when he assumed the job in 1990 at age 32.

"A lot of young people have moved into town recently, and there's a new energy here. These guys are reflective of that. Whoever gets elected, I'm sure either one will do a good job."

Mayor Heather Bruno, 48, is retiring after one term and three previous terms on council.

"They're both fine young men, and I'm excited to see them step up," she said.

The power in Downingtown rests not with the mayor but with the six-member Borough Council, which really runs the town, setting policy and passing ordinances. The mayor oversees the Police Department and can cast a tie-breaking vote. But mainly the mayor is the face of the borough, its cheerleader and ambassador.

It's a role both Maxwell and Winkler believe they're suited for.

"Downingtown is at a defining moment," Winkler said. "Being mayor is about being a leader. I intend to be the borough's biggest promoter and advocate."

"Downingtown is a great town, but now we have the opportunity to become even better," Maxwell said. "I will market the town as a destination, a wonderful place to live, work, and play."

Both have been campaigning zealously for a part-time job that pays about $2,700 a year. Nevertheless, both pledge to devote themselves to it with passion.

Winkler, a Republican, and Maxwell, a Democrat, have Downingtown in their blood. Both went to Downingtown High School, where Winkler was elected class president three times, resurrected the Young Republicans Club, and was named "most likely to succeed." Maxwell was a deacon at Central Presbyterian Church and immersed himself in volunteer and charitable activities, mowing grass and shoveling snow for senior citizens, visiting shut-ins, and delivering flowers and food.

At James Madison University, Winkler majored in political science and minored in Russian studies. During the summer of his senior year, he was an intern in the office of Rick Santorum, then a Republican senator from Pennsylvania. In high school and college, he worked at the Coffee Cup restaurant, a popular Downingtown gathering place. It was there, he says, while overhearing conversations, that he developed an appreciation for local issues.

Maxwell attended West Chester University, where he studied public policy and wrote his senior paper on municipal government and how to improve a town like Downingtown. He continued his charitable work, helping repair homes and build ramps for the handicapped and raise money for orphanages. He also began working as general manager of the Microtel Inn & Suites in West Chester, a job he still holds, and he joined the borough Planning Commission, where he wrote a resolution encouraging energy-efficient construction, later adopted by the council.

Winkler returned to the borough after college and runs an Internet marketing company with his wife, Melinda. Maxwell, who is single, is pursuing a law degree at Widener University.

Both candidates say they favor "smart growth." Downingtown, a faded mill town that was once a prosperous papermaking center, is poised to transform itself. Several projects, including the pedestrian-friendly mixed-use River Station and the controversial development of a substantial portion of Kardon Park, are proceeding through the approval process or the courts.

"These projects will impact the town forever," Winkler said. "We want to attract new business while preserving the small-town charm and heritage that make Downingtown special." To that end, Winkler is calling for the creation of a citizens advisory board to guide and manage development.

"We must do the right kind of revitalization," echoed Maxwell. "We want to avoid sprawl and leverage the revitalization of the business district to renew surrounding neighborhoods."

On one thing both candidates fervently agree: Age is not an issue.

That sentiment was repeated the other day on Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown's main street.

"More power to them," said Jeff Stevens, 47, a volunteer firefighter. "It's good to get more new people involved in things around here."

"If they have the knowledge and ambition, go for it," said Kaitlin Ricci, 22, a stylist at 30 East Salon.

Borough manager Steve Sullins is delighted.

"I think it's great that younger folks are getting involved," Sullins said. "I have spoken to both candidates, and both are very energetic and both have the best interests of Downingtown at heart. It's unfortunate that one has to lose."